Sun, Dec 24, 2000 page2

• New laws conflict with old ways

  SMALL THREE LINKS It's hard to teach an old seadog new tricks, and telling Chinese who have for years traded their goods off the beaches of Kinmen to set up shop elsewhere might prove equally difficult, according to bemused local observers

  • By Joyce Huang / STAFF REPORTER
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  The major goal of the "small three links" (小三通) policy is to decriminalize low-volume trade that has been going on along the coasts of Kinmen and Matsu for years. However, the policy may provide less help than anticipated in integrating the flow of Chinese goods into Kinmen, local observers said.

  "It takes longer to get from Xiamen to Kinmen's Liaolo port (料羅灣) than it does to get to the beach. Therefore, we're not sure whether Chinese tradesmen will follow the route we've mapped out for them or just keep trading at the shoreline," chief of Kinmen Harbor Bureau's engineering department (金門港務處工務課) Hsu Cheng-fang (許正芳) told the Taipei Times, warning that trading along the shoreline would still be illegal even after the policy is implemented on Jan 1.

  As far as Xiamen tradesmen are concerned, small-amount trade has been a staple means of making a living while, to most of Kinmen's ordinary residents, it has made for an interesting market to visit.

  

  Residents of Kinmen are worried about public security when the "small three links" policy is put into effect starting January.

  PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

  "It's fun ... kind of like an exercise for us," said local resident A-mei (阿美), who added that she and her friends chase after bargains in the black market mostly out of curiosity.

  When coastal police are not around, the so-called "sell and run" (賣了就跑) market often attracts hundreds of cross-strait transactions on the beaches of Kinmen.

  However, when the coastal police are watching, it could appear to be nothing but people scattered on the seashore eager to make contact.

  

  Tsai Bi-feng (蔡碧鳳), Housekeeper, Age: 70

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  Not surprisingly, the police are often looked upon as the enemy.

  "You sometimes hear rumors of police beating up Chinese tradesmen, which can generate sympathy from Kinmen residents to their fellow Chinese across the strait, as well as hostility towards our own police," according to Chen Ching-hwang (陳清煌), director of KMT Legislator Chen Ching-pao's (陳清寶) Kinmen office.

  "We Kinmen residents actually identify more with Chinese than Taiwanese," said vice president of the Kinmen County Council Hsu Yu-chad (許玉昭), adding that Kinmen residents had a strong national identity.

  

  Hsu, Chi-yung (許績永), Former Kincheng township magistrate, Age: 52

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  Batches of inexpensive goods have long been illegally shipped by Chinese fishermen to Kinmen wholesalers.

  Chinese boats would sail in with the rising tide -- chongshan (沖山) -- and drop their goods under a designated tree along the beach -- tiupao (丟包) -- where Kinmen wholesalers would later pick up those goods without any further contact. Direct trade with human contact came later.

  Chinese tradesmen began anchoring their boats loaded with a variety of goods in the open sea, then would daringly ride a sampan made of thick polystyrene boards covered with waterproof plastic in order to go ashore. Goods, such as vegetables, seafood and rice, were presented on the sampan for purchase -- a box of 15 apples for only NT$125, an eel for less than NT$200, the prices were almost four times cheaper than those found on Kinmen.

  

  Chen Ching-hwang (陳清煌), Director of KMT Legislator Chen Ching-pao's (張清寶)Kinmen office, Age: 38

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  The sale of Chinese goods has become so lucrative that tradesmen from Xiamen would rather risk arrest than give up the market.

  "When they are caught by the policy, all their goods are confiscated and they're detained for at least a half-day-long interrogation ... but they don't seem to care," said Chen Kin-lu (陳金祿), the owner of a Chinese medicine shop. He said that the tradesmen would sometimes scatter their goods on the beach to deter the police from arresting them.

  "Bystanders might sometimes be rewarded by the police with seawater-soaked goods if they failed to catch the traders," Chen added.

  

  Chen Kin-lu (陳金祿), Traditional Chinese medicine shop owner, Age: 70

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  Chinese goods may cheap, but quality is a different matter.

  "Epidemic diseases may be transmitted from Chinese produce to Kinmen," Hsu said, citing the recent cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Kinmen.

  "Without a market price mechanism, you don't really know if what you bought is actually a bargain or if you were ripped off," Chen Ching-hwang said.

  

  Tung Shui-yin (董水銀), Fish shop owner, Age: 60

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  "In a market like that, you may pay for a box of useless stones and you still don't know who to argue with," A-mei said jokingly.

  But others differed, saying that Chinese tradesmen cherished the market such that they would feel obliged to provide better-quality goods to their customers on Kinmen.Miss Yang (楊小姐)
  

  Grocery store ownerI am not worried that the policy will make it easier for men to have mistresses [in China]. Why? Because wives will be able to track their husbands and follow them to Xiamen, if they dare to have mistresses there. If men can go, so can women. Therefore, I don't think the policy will have a negative impact in this regard. I think people will go there initially out of curiosity and then the fad will gradually fade.

  

  Miss Yang (楊小姐), Grocery store owner

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  Sun Ping-shu (孫炳樹)
  

  Retired
  

  Age: 63There will be more disadvantages than advantages once the direct links take effect. There may be a disruption in social order and a rise in crime. It might have a negative impact on local agriculture as well. There may be a decrease in demand for local fruits and vegetables because those coming from China are so cheap. I don't think residents from Xiamen will offset that -- they simply don't have money to spend.Tsai Bi-feng (蔡碧鳳)
  

  

  Sun Ping-shu (孫炳樹), Retired, Age: 63

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  Housekeeper
  

  Age: 70A lot of Kinmen residents are putting iron gratings on their doors and windows. In Kinmen, we used to leave our doors open when we were busy with housework and we could leave our doors unlocked even after we went to bed at night. I am worried that some poor Chinese people may commit robberies. The policy certainly benefits the iron grating businesses.

  Yang Hsiu-bai (楊秀貝)
  

  

  Yang Hsiu-bai (楊秀貝), Fruit store owner, Age: 40

  PHOTO: LIBERTY TIMES

  Fruit store owner
  

  Age: 40Some tourists may prefer to buy their fruit from China. However, the locals with higher living standards, civil servants for example, may choose not to buy any. They fear that China's fruit, not having been inspected by sanitation and anti-epidemic bureaus first, may contain preservatives and who knows what else. But their fruit is definitely cheaper. In fact, it's almost half as cheap as the fruit grown in Taiwan.

  Hsu, Chi-yung (許績永)
  

  Former Kincheng township magistrate
  

  Age: 52I am not certain about the policy's prospects since there was no direct cross-strait negotiation conducted beforehand. I also wonder what Chinese laborers will be up to during their stay in Kinmen since they can enter here legally now. There may be a rise in prostitution in Kinmen, whereas now most people enjoy living a simple life.

  Chen Ching-hwang 陳清煌
  

  Director of KMT Legislator Chen Ching-pao's (張清寶)Kinmen office
  

  Age: 38 We are looking forward to developing Kinmen into a `duty-free trade center (免關稅經貿特區).' The Cabinet had previously planned to list 309 items as duty-free, however, it was cut down to 164 items due to pressure from some major industry organizations. Imagine a duty-free shop with only 164 items! How can it be competitive or attract tourists?

  Chen Kin-lu (陳金祿)
  

  Traditional Chinese medicine shop owner
  

  Age: 70It doesn't seem as though the policy will affect our daily lives. However, if we are allowed to import Chinese medicine directly from Xiamen, we will take advantage of the cheaper source. But, if the government intends to collect taxes on imported Chinese medicine, it will not help our business. I hope the government lists it as a tax-free item but it looks as though government officials are still undecided.

  Tung Shui-yin (董水銀)
  Fish shop owner
  

  Age: 60

  [Commodities from China] are cheaper and of greater variety. This increased competition will make it very difficult for us to run our businesses. And I don't mean just fish. Any number of goods from China fit this description. [Local products] will be harder to sell! I don't think the policy will help Kinmen in any way.

  For your information

  Regulations governing the 'small three links'

  Effective Jan. 1, 2001 Passengers TAIWAN: Only residents who have registered their households in Kinmen and Matsu for more than six months are allowed to enter China. CHINA: Seven hundred Chinese may enter Kinmen per day (two-day stay for tourists, seven days for other purposes). One hundred Chinese may enter Matsu per day (three-day stay for tourists, seven days for other purposes). Shipping TAIWAN: Taiwanese fishing boats can enter Xiamen from Kinmen's Laiolo port and Matsu's Fuwo port on condition they do not fly national flags. CHINA: Unscheduled Chinese ships can now apply for entrance to Kinmen and Matsu. Goods In accordance with regulations, exports and imports are allowable between Xiamen, and Kinmen and Matsu. It is prohibited to use Kinmen and Matsu as transfer ports between China and Taiwan. Money Direct cross-strait money remittances between banks in Kinmen, Matsu and China's Fujian areas are allowed, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Finance and the central bank. There are no restrictions on indirect banking transactions through foreign banks or banks in areas other than Taiwan or China. TAIWAN: Only NT dollars can be used in Kinmen and Matsu. CHINA: Kinmen and Matsu residents may use NT dollars, US dollars and remnimbi in China.
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